OpenAI board rejects Elon Musk-led $97.4 billion buyout offer
San Francisco, United States -- OpenAI's board chairman on Friday said it has unanimously rejected an Elon Musk-led offer to buy...
Business
ADNOC L&S 2024 net profit $756m
The company's revenue increased by 29 percent to $3.54 billion.
Business
Business
Doha Bank bond issue oversubscribed four times
Doha, Qatar - Doha Bank has successfully issued $500 million in international bonds, garnering a total order book of $2...
- The achievement follows an extensive marketing campaign by Doha Bank's management, engaging with investors globally to present the bank's objectives and performance overview
- The positive response from investors reflects confidence in Doha Bank's future prospects and the robust fundamentals of the Qatari economy
Business
Stable credit conditions make GCC firms resilient
Gulf companies benefit from supportive credit environments, ensuring resilience in 2024 despite global economic challenges and geopolitical risks, says a...
- Gulf companies benefit from supportive credit environments, ensuring resilience in 2024 despite global economic challenges and geopolitical risks, says a report.
- GCC entities are poised to handle higher refinancing and interest costs through improved performance and non-oil growth, maintaining stable debt levels, it adds.
Geostrategy
Italy begins probe into OpenAI’s new video tool Sora
ROME, ITALY – The European country's data protection watchdog - Italian Data Protection Authority - said on Friday it has launched...
- The Italian Data Protection Authority said it was concerned over “the possible implications for the processing of personal data of users.”
- The watchdog said OpenAI -- which also makes chatbot ChatGPT and the image-generating DALL-E -- has 20 days to provide information.
Business
Saudi Tourism Authority, Trip.com Group sign global agreement
BERLIN, GERMANY – Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Trip.com Group have announced a significant global partnership, which will drive greater...
- The joint effort aims to bring over 350 thousand additional tourists to Saudi over the course of the agreement.
- The partnership is vital as it coincides with exceptional growth and transformation in the global tourism industry.
Business
ADCB approves cash dividends worth US$1.1bn
ABU DHABI, UAE – Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) has approved the Board of Directors proposal to distribute a cash...
- ADCB’s physical-cum-virtual 40th Annual General Assembly meeting approved the decision.
- The Board of Director’s proposal means distributing cash dividend of $0.15 (AED0.56) per share.
Business
Binghatti lists sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai
The debut issue of the company is valued at US$300m.
- The company's listing sets a new standard as the first real estate benchmark USD-denominated sukuk from MENA in 2024
- Nasdaq Dubai has maintained its position as a leading exchange for fixed income listings across the MENA region
Business
Burjeel Holdings net profit up
The company’s 2023 annual revenue rises to US$1.2 billion.
- The group continued to implement its geographic expansion strategy with the launch of the PhysioTherabia rehabilitation network in Saudi Arabia.
- It opened eight new centers in March 2024 in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, and Yanbu which significantly expanded its geographical reach.
Business
Saudi Arabia transfers 8% Aramco stake to PIF-owned firms
Saudi Arabia said it transferred an additional eight percent stake from oil giant Aramco to firms owned by the kingdom's...
- The transfer was "a continuation of Saudi Arabia's long-term initiatives to boost and diversify the national economy and expand investment opportunities".
- The move brings the state's ownership of Aramco shares to 82.19 percent.
Business
Nationwide offers to buy Virgin Money
Nationwide has offered US$3.7 billion for Virgin Money.
- Nationwide management believe the transaction will broaden and deepen its products and services faster than could be achieved organically.
- The deal remains subject to due diligence and approvals from Virgin Money shareholders as well as Nationwide's borrowers and depositors.
Business
Lufthansa profit spikes in 2023
Its net profit shot up to US$1.82bn as demand booms.
- The group reported a net profit of 1.67 billion euros ($1.82 billion), compared to 791 million euros in 2022
- The profit was slightly below an estimate of about 1.8 billion euros by analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet
OpenAI board rejects Elon Musk-led $97.4 billion buyout offer
San Francisco, United States -- OpenAI's board chairman on Friday said it has unanimously rejected an Elon Musk-led offer to buy...
Business
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Qatar Airways seeking 25% stake in Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal...
Business
OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati leaving company
San Francisco, United States - OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati on Wednesday said she is leaving the company behind ChatGPT,...
Business
No peak oil demand ‘on the horizon’, phaseout a ‘fantasy’: OPEC
Paris, France - OPEC said Tuesday that phasing out oil was a "fantasy", as the Saudi-led cartel forecast that demand would...
Economy
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Business
Microsoft cutting more jobs from its gaming unit amid industry layoffs
San Francisco, United States- Microsoft is cutting about 650 more positions from its gaming unit as it continues to tighten its...
- No games or devices are being cancelled, nor are any studios being closed as part of the "adjustments" made at Microsoft's gaming unit on Thursday, according to Spencer
- Layoffs have become common in the video game industry, with Sony PlayStation early this year announcing it was laying off eight percent of its global workforce
Business
Apple unveils new iPhone built for AI, looks to boost sales
Cupertino, United States - Apple on Monday unveiled new iPhones built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales...
- The tech giant has a lot riding on the new iPhone 16 and hopes that customers are enticed to buy the latest models, attracted by new AI powers
- The features are similar to tools recently released by Meta, Microsoft and Google, which can produce well-crafted content simply by querying in everyday language
Business
UAE’s Etihad finds ‘no issues’ with engines of A350 fleet: statement
Rolls-Royce said on Thursday it was launching "a one-time precautionary engine inspection programme" which may apply "to a portion of...
- Etihad Airways, which operates five of the Airbus A350-1000s, is the only airline in the United Arab Emirates that has this aircraft type in service
- "Etihad has discovered no issues, nor experienced any similar events with the engine, so does not anticipate any impact on its operations," it added